Jewish Studies Minor

I. Interdisciplinary Minor
The interdisciplinary minor allows students to study Jewish history, literature, religion, and culture in a program that integrates these different dimensions of Jewish civilization from the various disciplinary perspectives of Jewish Studies. The minor consists of 7 c.u.s as following:

• Two courses in Jewish history, which normally will include at least two semesters of either JWST156/HIST 139; JWST157/HIST140; or JWST158/HIST141.
• Two courses in Jewish literature, from at least two different historical periods.
• Two courses in Jewish religion or culture
• One elective.
  
  Please note: Transfer credits (including all study abroad courses) are limited to 2 c.u.s for the Interdisciplinary minor.
  
  NEW POLICY ON CREDITS FROM YESHIVOT:
  All students matriculating in or after September 2008 should be aware that yeshiva study will not be considered for credit within the interdisciplinary major or minor in Jewish Studies. This policy extends to other non-accredited study programs, such as Young Judaea year course etc. Only courses taken at accredited colleges and universities may be considered for credit.
  

II. Jewish History Concentration though the Department of History
The Jewish history concentration within the History department focuses upon the historical dimensions of Jewish experience and the evolution of Jewish life in the context of the different cultures in which Jews have lived. The Jewish History minor requires 6 courses.

• Two semesters of the three-semester Jewish history survey which treat the ancient (HIST 139), medieval (HIST 140), and modern periods (HIST 141) respectively.
• Two additional Jewish history courses, one of which must be a seminar.
  
  

All students declaring a history minor after August 2006 must fulfill the requirements of the new history minor.

The Jewish history minor within the History department focuses upon the historical dimensions of Jewish experience and the evolution of Jewish life in the context of the different cultures in which Jews have lived. The history minor requires 6 courses, 3 of which must be taken in Jewish history to complete the concentration in Jewish history:

• One semester of the three-semester Jewish history survey which treat the ancient (HIST 139), medieval (HIST 140), and modern periods (HIST 141) respectively.
• 1 seminar in Jewish history
• 1 elective

For details of the general requirements of the history minor, please click here:

III. Hebrew and Judaica Concentration though the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
The Hebrew/Judaica Concentration in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations focuses upon the study of Hebrew language and literature as a window for understanding Jewish culture and its historical experience through the literary analysis of texts and artifacts. The NELC minor normally consists of 8 c.u.s, but students who have passed Hebrew proficiency when they entered Penn may apply to have the minor reduced to 6 c.u.s.

• Four c.u.s of Modern or Biblical Hebrew language.
• At least four electives, two of which must be in the study of Hebrew texts in the original language from two different historical periods (Biblical; Rabbinic or Medieval; Modern).
• Minors who have passed Hebrew proficiency upon entering Penn must take three c.u.s of Hebrew text-courses, one from each of the three historical periods.

IV. Judaism Concentration through the Department of Religious Studies
The Judaism Concentration in the Religious Studies Department focuses on the study of Judaism within the context of other world religions and offers students the opportunity to explore the construction of Jewish religion in its different cultural settings.
The Judaism minor consists of six courses, two of which can be transferred from other departments or programs (in addition to all courses normally cross-listed with Religious Studies).

• RELS 002, Religions of the West
• At least one introductory-level course in Judaism (see #2 above).
• At least one semester of the Jewish History sequence (see #3 above).
• At least one other course on other world religions (see #4 above)
• Two electives.Of the above courses, at least one must be in each of the General Distribution sectors in which Religious Studies Courses are taught (eg. History and Tradition, Society, Arts and Letters). Although language courses will not be counted for the major, students are encouraged to attain proficiency in a Jewish language (normally Hebrew or Yiddish).